Finding a reel to go saltwater fishing starts with three basic considerations: your experience, your preferred way of fishing and the type of fish you're after. You then have a choice of several styles of reels to get the job done.

It also protects the reel's inside workings from the saltwater and moisture

Materials/Construction

Ther are a number of options available in saltwater fishing reels.

Spools

The spool is the part of the reel that holds the line

It is a detachable component of the reel

Spools are made of either graphite or aluminum

Graphite spools are designed to be lighter than aluminum spools

Aluminum spools generally cost more and some consider aluminum to be more durable; it's worthwhile to pay for anodized or machined bronze aluminum to fend off the corrosive effects of saltwater and moisture

Either material is designed to resist corrosion from the water

Frames

The frame is what gives the reel its shape

Frames can also be either made of graphite or aluminum

Once again, this is a question of weight and the price you are willing to pay for a reel

Line capacity

Line capacity is a key consideration in selecting a reel

Some reels can handle as much as 900 yards

The amount of line you'll need depends on your type of fishing

Gear ratio

Gear ratio tells you how quickly a reel will retrieve line per revolution of your reel's crank

Lower ratios provide more power for bringing fish from deeper depths, while higher gear rations benefit when pulling fish from closer to the surface

Ball bearings

Ball bearings are used to help reels work more smoothly by supporting the moving parts

Generally speaking, the more ball bearings, the smoother the reel works, especially under pressure

As more ball bearings are added to a reel, the cost goes up

Level winds

A level wind makes it so that when you reel in your line it is distributed evenly over the spool

Level winds found on baitcasting reels will evenly guide the line back on to the spool after casting